The breeding ratio is the number of females accompanying a male for breeding purposes. It will vary depending upon the size and type of the breed. With light, utility breeds it may be as high as ten females to one male, with a ratio of eight to one for heavy breeds, although a lower ratio is common, particularly with rarer breeds. Here, trios or even pairs are more usual. Some of the breeds, such as Booted or Sabel poot bantams, find breeding more difficult because of the large leg feathers.
Pen mating is where one male is penned with several females, while flock mating is where there are several males running with a larger flock. This is usually on a field scale so there is unlikely to be a problem of the males fighting. Fertility tends to be higher with flock mating.
On a small scale, if there is a problem of a 'lazy' male, he can be penned within sight of the females but not so that he can access them. Meanwhile, another male can be used. A few days of this will usually rekindle the interest of the confined male